Sheet-metal can or the like.



BEST AVAILABLE CO n 794.880. PATLNTLD JULY 13, 1905 P. 0. B. PAGE.

SHEET METAL CAN OR THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 17, 1904.

FIG. 2.

INVENTOR: M 645. 4 j gB Am 2 7 Y OM- S E S S E N mm-I n mun/m (0. mo! mvocmmmu wwlrcrrmmc BEST AVAILA BLE COP 3 Patented July 18,1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK c'. B. Plies-or NEW YORK, N. Y.

SHEET-METAL CAN OR THE LIKE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 794,880, dated July 18, 1905.,

Application filed August 17, 1904. Serial No- 221,091.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK G. B. PAGE, a citizen of the United States, residing in the borough of Brooklyn, county of Kings,city

and State of New York,'have invented-certain new and useful Improvements in Sheet-Metal -In all these cases, as far as I am aware, it is necessary to take hold of the end of .a portion of the closure or of. an annular strip and to tear it gradually by pulling it away from the remaining portions. The force necessary to do this usually calls for a key upon which the strip or other separable portion is wound, and a special key has to be provided with each box or vessel.

I propose to provide a can which can be very easily and quickly opened without a special tool and without having to exert a great force such as is necessary with some of the old style vessels. According to myimprovement also the top of the can or box is removed in a single piece, and there is no danger of its falling into the can, as'is the case where such a top is separated from the sides by an annular strip. The improvement may be applied to vessels of various sortsik Certain other improvements are referred to in detail hereinafter.

The accompanying drawings illustrate an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 1 is a plan of the top of a circular tin can. Fig. 2 is a diametral section of the same. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section showing the method of opening the can.

Referring to the embodiment illustrated, the can top or closure comprises a sheet of the usual thin tinned metal having a central portion A, which is defined and surrounded by a single weakened line B. The weakened line may be formed in any known or suitable way, but is preferably formed by grooving or scoring the metal to materially reduce its thickness. In the use of the invention a sharp tool, such as an ice-pick or a long nail or any strong-pointed tool, may be driven through the weakened line B, and by pressing down on the outer end of the tool the central portion A may be pried up, the tool being gradnally worked around the circumference until the entire central portion is separated from the margin 0. In order to facilitate the insertion of a tool, a specially-weakened portion in the line B is provided, as by forming a second weakened'line D, cutting through one wall of the groove, which forms the principal line B. At the point where the lines D and B meet a tool may be inserted with hardly any difficulty. In order that in prying up the central portion A the bending of the edge of the latter may not be too much localized, but may be distributed around a considerable length of the circumference, the edge of the portion A is stiffened in any suitable manner as, for example, by forming a rib E parallel with and close to the edge.

vent bearing down too hard upon the marginal portion C of the cover, it is preferable E that an elevated rib be provided outside of; the weakened line to form a fulcrum forthe prying-tool. For example, in the const tion shown the can-head is depressed and edge is elevated to form a rlb F, which is stiff enough to take the pressureof the open-- ing-tool G- without substantial distortion.

The stiffening-ribE, appIiedad acent to the weakened line and upon the edge of the part to be removed, has a function of the greatest 1 Without this head ,or rib the f edge of theparts to be removed would bendj very easily,and it would be impossible to transj mit the strain effectively from the prying-tool i importance.

to the weakened line. With this reinforced edge a greater tearing strain can be applied. It follows, therefore, that the depth of the groove does not need to be so great. Fro this it further follows that the strength 0" grooved portion (relatively to the remai. metal) may be greater than where a stiffen head is not used. It is imperative for e. mercial reasons to use very thin tin. .l"n

In order to prestrain upon the metal in the ordinary processing operations is extreme, and it would be out of the question to make adeep scored line. Therefore the stiffening-rib becomes practically of the greatest value in permitting a shallow score. The stiffening-rib is preferably on the inner side of the metal, so as to form a bearing-point for the end of the prying-tool and to prevent the same from tearing the metal in an approximately radial direction.

Though I have described with great partieularity of detail a certain embodiment of the invention, yet it is not to be understood therefrom that the invention is limited to the specific .form shown. A

What I claim is- 1. A vessel having a portion to be separated substantially surrounded by a continuous weakened line along which the vessel may be pried open, the portion to be separated having.

a stiffened line adjacent to said weakened line. 2. A vessel having as its opening means a continuous weakened line along which the vessel may be pried open, and having a stiffeningrib projecting within the vessel and adjacent to said weakened line.

3. A vessel the end of which has a portion BEST AVAILABLE COP to be separated substantially surrounded bya scored line B along which said portion may be easily pried ofi from the marginal portion, said portion to be separated having a stiifening-rib E near its edge.

4:. A vessel having at its end a sheet the central portion of which is substantially sur- .rounded by a weakened line B along which the central portion may be pried off from the marginal portion, and having a second weakened lineD forming with said line B a point of easy entrance for a prying-tool, said central portion having astifl'eningrib Enear its edge. 5. A vessel having at its end a sheet the central portion of which is substantially surrounded by a weakened line B along which the central portion may be pried off from the marginal portion, and having a second weakened line'D forming with said line B a point of easy entrance for a prying-tool.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANK C. B. PAGE. \Vitnesses:

DOMINGO A. USINA, THEODORE T. SNELL. 

